Manali Leh Cycle Expedition

Manali to Leh Cycle expedition is one of the most challenging journeys you could take and there could be no better setting then the mighty Himalayas.

• Experience bicycle ride on the challenging Manali - Leh Highway.
• Ride across multiple, picturesque Himalayan passes.
• Explore Jispa, Sarchu and Pang villages.

Why book this?

• No Hidden Costs: All inclusive price with no hassle of paying on multiple occasions during the trip.
• Fixed Departures: All available dates on the calendar are bookable.
• Ultra Comfortable Accommodation: All accommodations during the ride in comfortable hotels and deluxe camps. All with attached washroom.
• Bike Rent: For rented bike options and bike rent is included in the price.
• All Permits and Fees: No hassle of paying permit fees, entry fees or wildlife fees during your ride. It's all included in the price. 

Detailed Overview 

The trip starts in Manali and ends in Leh, taking you across the 5 high Himalayan passes: Khardung La (5359 m or 17582 ft). Baralacha La (4890 m or 16040 ft), Lachulung La (5059 m or 16600 ft), Rohtang Pass (3978 m or 13050 ft) and Taglang La (5328 m or 17480 ft).

Besides high passes, the whole trip is filled with many more adventures such as Gata loops - the 22 curves or hairpin bends or Moray plains - one of the highest & coldest deserts in the world. You cross iconic rivers such as Indus and finally reach Leh.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Manali (1,950 m/6400 ft).
• Day 2: Manali Trial & Warm-up Ride (25 km).
• Day 3: Manali - Marhi (35 km | 3320 m/11023 ft).
• Day 4: Marhi - Sissu (43 km | 3120 m/12036 ft).
• Day 5: Sissu to Jispa (52 km | 3200 m/10498 ft).
• Day 6: Jispa to Zing Zing Bar (40 km | 4270 m/14009 ft).
• Day 7: Zing Zing Bar to Sarchu (54 km | 4290 m/14070 ft).
• Day 8: Sarchu to Pang (70 km | 4700 m/15419 ft).
• Day 9: Pang to Debring (45 km | 4765 m/15634 ft).
• Day 10: Debring to Rumtse (50 km |  4152 m/13622 ft).
• Day 11: Rumtse to Leh (80 km | 3500 m/11483 ft).
• Day 12: Leh - Khardung La - Leh (45 + 45 km | 5602 m/18380 ft).
• Day 13: Check Out from Leh.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Manali

• On the first day, you will have to reach in Kullu-Manali hotel/camp and have lunch with a round of introductions for the participants.
• Rest and acclimatization day, in a short while you will be briefed by the expedition leader.
• You are free to explore Manali after the briefing.
• Stay overnight at the hotel/camp.

Day 2: Trial and Warm-up ride in Manali

• After breakfast, you will get on personal your bicycle which you can inspect and ride. 
• Expedition leader will be present to assist and guide you. You will then head out for a ride through the pine forests and along the Beas river.
• Post a short ride of about 20 km you will head back to camp and rest up for the expedition beginning the next day.
• Reshuffle the luggage and get prepared for the actual ride starting on Day 3.
• You will have your dinner and stay overnight in Manali.

Day 3: Manali - Marhi

• Today would be the first climb of the trip which takes you through the panoramic view of pine and deodar trees.
• You will start early to beat the traffic at Rohtang Pass. Marhi (3000 m above sea level) is a small settlement located en route to Rohtang La.
• You will be staying overnight in the camps at the picturesque camping site in Marhi.

Day 4: Marhi - Sissu

• Today you have the 14 km ascent to the Rohtang pass ahead of you. The ride gives some great scenic views of the snow-covered peaks and glaciers of Spiti valley.
• Experience the bliss of riding through walls of snow as you cross the awe-inspiring scenery of the Rohtang pass. After a revitalizing halt at Rohtang, an easy descent takes us to Gramphu.
• From here, you follow a muddy flat road to reach Sissu in the foothills of the Pir Panjal Range.

Day 5: Sissu - Jispa

• On day 5, you start with a short climb to Gondla. From here, there is a steep descent to Tandi situated at the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga Rivers.
• Continuing from Tandi, you will cross Keylong and reach Jispa where you camp on banks of the Bhaga River.

Day 6: Jispa - Zing Zing Bar

• Today there a gradual 10 km uphill ride to Darcha from Jispa. From Darcha road to Patseo is barren and dusty.
• The isolation of the place can be felt from here. The day next will be when you start the steep ascent to Baralacha-La from Zing Zing bar.

Day 7: Zing Zing Bar - Sarchu

• Today you start early and ride the mountains to reach Baralacha La at 4890 m.
• Moving on you will cross Deepak Tal situated at 14000 ft. with scenic Mulkila peaks in the background. Look out for Marmots along the road.
• The further road descends steadily to the Sarchu Plains.

Day 8: Sarchu - Pang

• After some easy cycling in the start, you will reach the ‘21 loops of Gata’; you then zig-zag your way to Nakila at 5,050 m. 
• You'll be crossing over from Himachal Pradesh into Jammu & Kashmir. After a short descent, you cross Lachulung La Pass at 5,150 metres - the second highest pass on the Manali Leh highway.
• From here you descend to Pang manoeuvring your way through some of the worst roads of this trips. 

Day 9: Pang - Debring

• A total of 45 km riding through flat plains. This is a day of relaxation; rejuvenate while you pedal along more flat roads but under the hot sun.
• Enjoy the vast plains and the feeling of nothingness.
• Have your dinner and stay overnight in the camps.

Day 10: Debring - Rumtse

• A total of 50 km; 15 km of the continuous climb on an almost non-existent road and the rest rolling terrain. Taglang-la (5359 m) is also the second highest motorable mountain pass in India.
• The climb up to this pass is demanding and can take a toll on you. Stay committed and you will make it to the top.
• Descend with high caution along this 25 km descent into Lato town. Riders are required to descend together and under the vigil of the lead guide and backed by the support vehicles.
• You will have your dinner and stay overnight in camps in Rumtse.

Day 11: Rumtse - Leh

• On the penultimate day of the expedition, scenery changes dramatically.
• You reach the fertile valley of Ladakh, scattered with beautiful villages and stupas. Mountains in vivid colours add to the beauty of the amazing scenery.
• Just as you cross Indus River, the road turns into a racing tarmac. You will continue on the easy ride as you cross Thiksey Monastery and arrive in Leh.
• Congratulations!, It took four major mountain passes and over 480 km to get here.

Day 12: Leh - Khardung La

• Early morning you start for Khardung La. This day would be one of the most challenging days of the trip, with over 45 km of cycling and gaining 2000 m.
• The reward at the end of which is reaching the highest motorable road in the world taking you to a dizzy 5359 metres. This is the mother of all climbs, claimed to be the highest motorable pass in the whole wide world.
• Needless to say, the view from here is spectacular, giving you panoramic sight of Indus valley in the South and Zanskar range in the North.

Day 13: Check out Leh

• Early in the morning get transferred to the airport in Leh for your flight to Delhi.